Tuesday, October 28, 2008

No backing down now!

Being an exercise science major, I am constantly hearing buzz about the next approaching marathon...since I've mastered the art of jutting into just about any conversation, I usually respond with a (usually truthful) "awe, I wish I could! I'm going to be out of town that weekend, dang it!" and move on about my day, extinguishing the subtle guilt felt with thoughts of "psh, I can never be that competitive of a person to want to run that much. I'm not trying to prove anything. I do it for fun and enjoyment! Who needs a marathon anyway?" But secretly I'm in awe of those who happily tell recounts of joyfully breaking through the finish line, and well, curiosity just got the best of me. I've got to see what all the fuss is about! I do this with lots of things--knock them till I try them (um, Harry Potter? Yes please!). So last month, on a motivated whim, I decided to sign up not only myself, but my fiance, Billy, to run the Yuengling Shamrock Half Marathon on March 22, 2009. I figure it's best to channel my "gotta look great for the wedding" energy into something somewhat meaningful and more interesting than plodding on the elliptical while staring at the clock. Thus, for the past 5 weeks, I have really kicked up my running routine, completing my longest distance to date (a mere 5.7 miles--a far cry from the intangible 13.1 I'll soon face). Mid-November is when the real training will start to go down...I'll be greedily collecting oxygen till then!